Refinement of Movement

Refinement of Movement

The children are seen here using some of the Refinement of Movement activities that are provided in the Under 3 classroom. The lock and key activity promotes eye-hand coordination, twisting movements, and a pincer grasp. The cutting activity allows the children to strengthen their hand muscles and grip strength. (Please click for more information and full photos.)

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Latch Board

The latch board allows the child to practice and eventually master opening and closing a variety of latches. This activity fosters fine motor skills, self-help skills, and independence. The child also experiences the relationship between cause and effect. (Please click for the full photos.)

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Nesting Geometric Solids

The Nesting Geometric Solids activities are the beginning of the Montessori puzzle sequence. A child begins with the Ovoid (egg) and Cup, then the Sphere and Cup, and then the Cube and Box, which adds the complexity of matching the corners. These simple activities encourage various grasps, eye-hand coordination, and both hands working together. (Please click for full photos and more information.)

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Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscle movements between eye, hand, wrist, and fingers. A variety of fine motor activities are accessible daily to the children in addition to programmed learning opportunities. Children can be seen using creative, sensory and cognitive activities that encourage the use of fine motor skills. (Please click for the full photos.)

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Sorting Objects

Sorting objects into compartments or categories helps support a variety of cognitive skills such as matching and problem solving as well as encourages fine motor and language skills. Children will show a sense of pride and accomplishment once they are able to complete the activity and tend to do it repeatedly until they feel like they have mastered it. (Please click for more information and photos.)

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Dressing Frames

The 4 dressing frames that we have in our classroom are a velcro frame, a zipper frame, a button frame and a snap dressing frame. These are all part of the practical life area. The dressing frames encourage fine motors skills, eye-hand coordination, as well as foster independence and self help skills. (Please click for the full photos.)

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Object Permanence

This box with drawer and ball activity allows the children to practice their eye-hand coordination skills and refine their movement. The children fulfill their need for repetition and develop an understanding of object permanence. (Please click for the full photos and more information.)

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Puzzles

Puzzles allow a child to enhance their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, concentration, and problem-solving skills. They are also useful tools for children to begin to recognize shapes. Children are offered simple shape puzzles to begin with and move on to more complex puzzles to challenge them as they become more skilled. (Please click for more information).

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Building With Blocks

The possibilities are endless when building with blocks. Constructing with blocks enhances eye-hand coordination along with fine motor and cognitive skills through a creative and scientific approach. Language skills are also encouraged as the child describes what they are building.

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Pop-Up Activities

Pop-up activities allow the child to develop their fine motor strength, hand-eye coordination, curiosity, and concentration. As they explore, their actions elicit a response, and the child can observe a cause-and-effect relationship.

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